Chapter 3: The Line Nobody Had Established
The next morning, Daniel returned to the property.
The woman was there again.
This time she stood near the edge of the driveway without the bat.
Daniel stopped several feet away.
“I thought we were done yesterday.”
“We’re not.”
She pointed toward the pavement.
“This has always been my access.”
Daniel looked down.
“Access isn’t ownership.”
She said nothing.
That was the first useful distinction either of them had made.
Daniel had no interest in humiliating her. He wanted the dispute settled clearly enough that neither of them would have to repeat the same confrontation.
He suggested they verify the property boundary.
That was harder for her to dismiss.
If she had a legal right to control the driveway, the records would show it.
If she didn’t, there would be no reason to keep arguing over it.
The woman crossed her arms.
“And if you’re wrong?”
“Then I’ll deal with that.”
She looked toward the house.
“And if you’re wrong?”
“Then you stop telling me what I can do here.”
For a long moment, she studied him.
Finally, she agreed.
The immediate shouting match was over.
But the dispute had become more serious.
Until the property line was established, neither side could honestly claim the matter was settled.
Daniel looked at the driveway.
Yesterday, it had been a place where two strangers had challenged each other.
Now it had become evidence.
And the answer would not come from whoever could shout the loudest.
